Not finding Flight 370 could be a missed opportunity for change

(CNN) – The history of aviation reads like an equation: Accidents equal safety and security improvements.

In 1983, a fire broke out in a lavatory on Air Canada Flight 797. The plane landed but 23 people on-board died. After that, smoke detectors and automatic fire extinguishers were mandated in aircraft lavatories.

In 1996, hazardous cargo on ValuJet Flight 592 caught fire. The plane crashed in the Florida everglades and 110 people died. It led to new cargo hold safety rules.

Not finding Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 or its data recorders could be a missed opportunity for change.

CNN's René Marsh reports.